Time is running out at the Port of Bundaberg in Queensland, where a decision must be made in the next couple of days on whether further dredging will be carried out.

If there is no further dredging, the sugar industry stands to lose around $12 million.

The port infrastructure, which is owned by the State Government, was damaged by flooding earlier in the year and larger sugar export ships no longer have access because of flood silt.

Sugar Milling Council of Australia CEO, Dominic Nolan, says there's only a small window next month where dredging work can happen.

"The Gladstone Ports Corporation, which owns the port, needs to contact the dredge within the next couple of days to secure the only available vessel.

"If we don't secure that vessel and we can't get that dredging done in August, we face the real prospect of running into October, where there is a moratorium on dredging activity due to the turtle migration and hatching season."

He says that could set the industry back six months and cost an extra $6 million because of double handling.

One small 11,000-tonne ship is currently carting sugar from Bundaberg to Mackay, where it's reloaded onto larger export ships.

Ideally, the operation needs 30,000-tonne ships.

"We understand the Queensland Government has put forward an NDRRA [Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements] submission to the Federal Government for funding to support this dredging activity to restore the flood to pre-flood facilities."

Mr Nolan says they've contacted the Prime Minister for a quick response, but haven't heard anything on a decision for the funding.

"Right at the moment, the industry feels like we're caught in the middle between the Federal Government decision-making process and the State Government which owns the port facility.

"We're asking the Queensland Government, regardless of that Federal Government submission, to go ahead and fund these dredging activities."

He says the first stage will cost $1.2 million.

The Port has spent $2 million already on emergency dredging to move flood silt, but it needs to spend another $6 million to dredge a further two metres to get the port back to full capacity.

So far the problem has already cost the sugar industry $6 million and Stephen Bennett, State Member for Burnett, says it was bought up in Cabinet yesterday and hopes the push will see a decision soon.

He says it's crucial for the sugar industry to get the port to pre-flood conditions, but a lot of work as been done already.

"It is frustrating and I fully acknowledge the canegrowers and sugar industry's frustration in this," Mr Bennett said.

"We need to acknowledge that Maritime Safety Queensland, Department of Transport and the State and Federal Government's got the port open to start the sugar being exported."

He says while it's not a complete solution, there is sugar moving.

"We have been through a major disaster event and we have got the port open in record time."